Selectmen Declare Norwood-Walpole YMCA Proposal “Dead,” But Y Officials Press On-October 12, 1981

Two key Norwood selectmen have pronounced plans for a joint Norwood-Walpole YMCA effectively dead, citing a lack of concrete details and lingering political friction—though top YMCA leadership vows to push forward regardless.

Selectmen Chairman John F. Kinnaly and Selectman William J. Plasko stated bluntly that their board has no current interest in pursuing the proposal, which was pitched by Walpole YMCA officials several months ago.

“I don’t think there’s any interest,” Kinnaly said. “I don’t see any sentiment for it.” Kinnaly emphasized that because the Y is a private organization, the town is unlikely to sink public funds into the project, noting that Norwood’s participation would be a non-starter if the facility were ultimately built in Walpole as originally planned.

Lack of Details and Political Friction

Selectman Plasko expressed deep frustration that YMCA officials and members of Walpole’s Mylod Civic and Charitable Foundation—which helped secure land on Mylod Street in Walpole for the project—have failed to provide concrete operational plans.

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s dead,” Plasko said. “They’ve shown us nothing. We’ve seen nothing concrete that shows that the town could or should be involved.”

Plasko’s resistance was further hardened by political fallout from a recent municipal battle. He voiced open resentment toward the Mylod group for actively lobbying against Norwood’s planned civic center at the former Aaron Guild Elementary School. Just prior to a September 15 non-binding referendum—which opposed the Guild plan by a vote of 2,532 to 1,799, ultimately leading a special town meeting to kill the plan on October 1—the Mylod Foundation mailed opposing letters to Norwood residents.

“Personally, I’m upset with them,” Plasko said of the Mylod group. “I didn’t like their interference.” (Plasko noted he had also opposed the Guild plan, but strictly on the grounds that a less costly site could be found). However, Plasko left a small window open, stating he would reconsider the Y proposal if leadership provided substantive details regarding architectural designs and program offerings.

YMCA Officials Push Forward with Demographic Study

Despite the cold shoulder from selectmen, Clifton Snuffer, president of the Southwest YMCA, announced he intends to present detailed plans in January.

Snuffer revealed that the Y is currently funding a $7,500 demographic study of the region to evaluate resident needs and program demand, with results expected in December.

“We’ve been staying in the background until Norwood decides the civic issue,” Snuffer explained. “The lead should not be Walpole’s or the YMCA’s.” While stating he harbors no opposition to a town civic center, Snuffer maintained that a regional YMCA represents the best recreational value for Norwood’s investment.

Project Scope and Financial Breakdown

Under the preliminary $3.3 million proposal, Norwood would be asked to cover roughly one-third of the cost, with Walpole and the YMCA picking up the remaining two-thirds. Norwood would become a part-owner of the facility, while daily users would support operations through membership fees—estimated at $125 a year for family memberships and $55 for individual adults.

Proposed amenities for the regional facility include:

• An indoor swimming pool
• Tennis courts
• A gymnasium
• Exercise and meeting rooms
• Comprehensive programs such as child day care, horseback riding, water safety, day camps, and nature studies.

While the Mylod Street site in Walpole remains the frontrunner, Snuffer noted that an alternate location near New Pond on the Walpole-Norwood line is also under consideration, and added that Y officials would gladly evaluate potential sites within Norwood if suggested by selectmen.

Meanwhile, Norwood selectmen are weighing six alternative locations for a municipal civic center: the former Guild School site, land off Nahatan and Walpole streets, the Nahatan Street Armory, and two additional unannounced locations.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger